
f 



about the Shantung 
Question 



FACTS ABOUT THE 
SHANTUNG QUESTION 



REV. N. TAMURA 



SEP 30 191 



< 3 



FACTS ABOUT THE SHANTUNG 
QUESTION 



At last America has come to be technically "Dry!" 
But unfortunately the people of America are just at pres- 
ent dreadfully intoxicated by the Shantung wine. To 
whom shall we impute the blame for this? 

There is no question but that Chinese propagandism 
recently inaugurated, enforced by American missionaries, 
has a tendency to make the sober land of America more 
wet than ever. At present the psychology of the crowd 
seems to be in full swing among the American people. 
They are confused and perplexed over the Chinese ques- 
tion. The dark cloud of uncertainty spans their horizon. 
In reality they need arousing, and the breaking in upon 
them of new light. 

Let us speak out fearlessly and directly, without any 
varnish, regarding this much agitated question. Is it 
true, is there any basis in fact for the insinuation that 
Japan has some secret or hidden intention of holding on 
to the Shantung Province, making it a part of her do- 
minion? In actuality is the sacred soil of China, where 
the sage, Confucius was born and educated, to be turned 
over to a " Foreign Devil" ? No ! a thousand times no ! 

It was announced over and over again, in all the papers 
of the world, with official seal attached, that the Shan- 
tung Province was to be turned over to China. There 
was no shadow of doubt about it. There was the agree- 
ment between China and Japan in 1915 to that effect. 
"Who broke it, China or Japan? 

When the chief Chinese peace delegate was passing 
through Tokyo last January, on his way to Paris, the 

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Japanese chief peace delegate, at his home, had an inter- 
view with him regarding the Shantung question. There 
was no division of opinion between them. On their sepa- 
ration they shook hands with the utmost unanimity of 
feeling and good will. 

For the first time in her history Japan is now con- 
trolled by a democratic party, and her prime minister, 
Mr. Hara feels, and has manifested the most friendly 
spirit and good will toward China, and agreed with her 
chief peace-delegate, who is the Chinese minister of for- 
eign affairs, that it is for the mutual wellbeing of both 
China and Japan that the two countries co-operate in all 
matters regarding the Far East. 

Yet curiously enough the attitude of the Chinese peace 
delegation toward Japan was completely changed as soon 
as they came to breathe the atmosphere of Paris. A large 
troop of statesmen, educators, even descendants of Con- 
fucius, flooded Paris. They numbered three hundred 
strong. What a heterogeneous aggregation were these 
Chinese delegates ! Evidently they heavily augmented 
the Chinese national debt, resting upon the shoulders 
of the common people. 

Unquestionably they became imbued with the subtle 
suggestion, from some unknown quarters, that then was 
an opportune time to mete out their vengeance upon 
Japan. Thunderous attacks were begun by them at once. 

Thus Japan was suddenly attacked from unexpected 
quarters. Unfortunately Japan's reputation for caution 
has gone to the wall because of her lack of preparation. 

Mr. Wilson's extensive fourteen points were cunningly 
juggled by them. Here old Chinese trickery was revealed 
without a mask. The true aim of the Chinese delegation 
was to destroy Japan's prestige and honor before the big 
powers, and to endeavor to conceal the sacred covenant 
of 1915, claiming that it was conceded by them unwillingly 
and by duress. Moreover, they sought to take back the 

4 



Shantung Province directly from the hands of the Peace 
Conference, instead of from either Germany or Japan, 
advancing the claim of treachery on the part of Japan; 
also, they argued that in handing over the Shantung 
Province to China, there was no need of the double task 
in its change of hands. 

As everyone knows, China as a nation, never lost a 
single finger in the great war. Sacrifice signifies some- 
thing. What does China want without any cost to her? 
Upon joining our Allies in 1915, she borrowed two million 
yen from the treasury of Japan to enable her engaging in 
the war. Where that money has largely gone, no one 
knows but Chinese officers. 

China could not hide her hatred of Japan, and sought 
to avenge herself at the first opportunity that was of- 
fered her. 

Last year the writer spent more than two months in 
China examining the true condition of the Chinese atti- 
tude toward Japan, and studied the situation from an im- 
partial viewpoint. It was most amazing to discover that 
the Chinese hatred toward Japan was intense, and almost 
indescribable. The Chinese almost worship any American 
as a saviour. On the contrary they despise any Japanese 
as a spy, and without the least discrimination. Even a 
minister of the Gospel was bitterly condemned to the 
same fate. 

No one denies that the Chinese are extremely suspi- 
cious. It is almost a disease characteristic with them, 
being deeply rooted in their nature, and is an inheritance 
of many centuries. 

Hear with what poisonous words the Chinese propa- 
gandists play in seeking to misrepresent Japan to the 
American public : ' ' Japan is the duplicate of Germany." 
"Japan is a dishonest nation." "Japan has teeth in her 
blood." 

When the facts are presented to them, the American 

5 



public are intelligent enough to see through what the 
Chinese are aiming at. 

Do not misunderstand me. Although I attack the old 
well-known Chinese trickery so sharply, nevertheless I 
am not so completely blinded, nor am I so egotistic a 
Japanese as to be unable to recognize, and to acknowl- 
edge, any of Japan's weaknesses and shortcomings 
toward China. 

There is no doubt that Japan committeed a big blun- 
der, almost a crime, in following the example which the 
European Powers set before her for many decades in 
handling China with gunpowder, and bound her up as a 
prisoner. Prom a military standpoint there was some 
excuse on the part of Japan. When the Russian Bear 
and the German Tiger crept forward with an insatiable 
appetite to devour a large piece of the Chinese pig, Japan 
could not stand idly aside and behold it with indifference. 

Had China been strong enough to check the tide of 
European invasion, the world now might have been dif- 
ferent. The simple truth is that Japan was obliged to 
take a defensive attitude to preserve her own existence 
as a nation. Such has been her true position toward 
China in the past. 

But fortunately the Bear and Tiger have gone to their 
eternal doom with shame. Under the present political 
circumstances Japan's attitude toward China ought to 
change to one of more peaceful dress. If our delegates 
in Paris had been broad enough in spirit to have treated 
China as a loving child, though she was a little naughty, 
and returned the Shantung Province without any condi- 
tions just as she wished, not only China but the whole 
world would have beheld our angelic smile, and our high- 
est aspiration, and in reality nothing of our prestige and 
honor would have been lost. Then no enemy would dare 
to show its teeth in the presence of such heart affection, 
faith and love. 



Unfortunately our delegates took quite a different 
position, and treated China as a stubborn child to be 
whipped, remembering their recent bitter experience in 
Chinese diplomacy, together with that of the past, so 
fickle, so full of treachery. Under these circumstances 
it is but natural that both the Chinese and Japanese dele- 
gates should get into a rage. 

Even enlightened statesmen are liable to fall into the 
same disgraceful pit. American politicians are not an 
exception. Some American senators, in high pitch of 
excitement, with veiled intent, are now blowing up inno- 
cent Japan. To advance their party success and schemes, 
they are sacrificing their sincerity and justice. 

President Wilson has acknowledged that he has full 
confidence in Japan's honesty and sincerity, but some 
senators have even sought to shake his faith, and by the 
most shameful methods. 

The Great Powers acknowledge that Japan is the 
leading guide in the Far East, and that safety and pros- 
perity there are largely dependent upon her. Why does 
not China acknowledge this? 

It is an open secret that Germany, during the war, 
powerfully sought to tempt Japan to her side through 
Uchida, the Japanese minister in Sweden. But Japan 
never listened to that temptation, and this was cause for 
great joy to the Allies. President Wilson knows this. 
Lloyd George knows this. Clemenceau knows it. Why 
then should an American senator fabricate such an imag- 
inary and such a shameful lie, and pour scalding water 
upon our heads? It is a crime to seek to break the good 
feeling and friend ship which have existed so long be- 
tween America and Japan. The two nations are bound 
up in affection and interest without one real straw of 
difference. Then do not kill friendly Japan by the ap- 
parent claim that you are helping China. In doing that 
there would be no profit gained from either China or 
Japan. 



China and Japan both are now standing in a most awk- 
ward position. China having lost the game in Paris is 
disheartened at the results. At the same time Japan, win- 
ning the victory at Paris, never rejoices in her success. 
Both are now seeing their weakness, and are coming very- 
near together, to an unseen realism. The Divine Hand 
is most affectionately soothing the temper of both nations. 
It is now time that China and Japan should come together 
in brotherly affection, and love, for the welfare of the 
Far East. If China and Japan are united in heart, there 
will be no more fights in Paris, or in Peking, in Tokyo 
or Washington. After all, the Shantung question is not 
a question of politics, but it is rather a moral and religious 
question. 

The world is ready now for reconstruction from the 
bottom. It will come. It is coming. Any reconstruction 
must begin in the heart. Without the Christian spirit, 
any league of nations is worthless and dead. We must 
now strike the high key-note of morality at any cost. 
The whole problem of the world is dependent upon a 
moral and religious standard. That is the pivotal point 
of all world problems. 

N. Tamura. 



■ TooaRY OF CONGRESS 

Mi. 

020 91* bVW 



